Last updated on May 26th, 2025
Roman numerals are a way of expressing numbers using symbols. I, V, X, L, C, D, and M are the symbols we use. Roman numerals are used in royal titles, book names, sequences, and so on. Here, we will be discussing Roman numerals, rules, and examples.
Have you ever wondered what symbols like I, V, X, L, C, D, and M represent in various contexts such as royal titles or historical documents? These are Roman numerals.
Ancient Romans developed the Roman numeral system using these symbols to count and represent numbers. In Roman numerals, we use MCMXLV to represent 1945.
Here, M is 1000, CM is 900, XL is 40, and V is 5. Let’s learn more about Roman numerals and how we write them.
There are certain basic rules to write a number in Roman numerals. In this section, let’s discuss some basic rules that need to be remembered when writing a number in Roman numerals.
The addition method is used when a smaller number is placed after a larger number. For example, XV → X + V → 10 + 5 = 15.
To write a large number, some Roman numerals can be repeated up to three times. For example, XXX → 30 (X is repeated three times).
If a smaller number precedes a larger number in Roman numerals, we subtract the smaller number from the larger number. For example, IV → V - I → 5 - 1 = 4.
The symbols cannot be repeated more than three times, and some symbols like V, L, and D cannot be repeated. For example, we won't write VV for 10; instead, we use X.
Let’s now learn how to write 1945 in Roman numerals. Follow these methods to write the number in Roman numerals.
In the expansion method, based on the place value, the number is broken down. In this section, we will learn how to write 1945 in Roman numerals using the expansion method. To write 1945 in Roman numerals, follow the steps:
Step 1: Break the number based on place value. Place values are ones, tens, hundreds, etc. For 1945, we write it as 1000 + 900 + 40 + 5.
Step 2: Convert the numbers into Roman numerals.
Step 3: Combine the Roman numerals together. Therefore, 1945 in Roman numerals is M (1000) + CM (900) + XL (40) + V (5) = MCMXLV.
When writing a large number in Roman numerals, we group the number. To write 1945 in Roman numerals, we group 1945 as 1000 + 900 + 40 + 5.
So, 1945 is written as MCMXLV in Roman numerals.
Students often make mistakes when writing numbers in Roman numerals. To master Roman numerals, we can learn a few common mistakes and the ways to avoid them.
A historian found a document stating that the year MCMXLV marked the end of a significant event. Convert MCMXLV into Arabic numerals.
The year MCMXLV in Arabic numerals is 1945.
MCMXLV is a Roman numeral where M = 1000, CM = 900, XL = 40, and V = 5.
Adding these together gives: 1000 + 900 + 40 + 5 = 1945.
In a library, there are a total of MCMXLV books distributed evenly across XLV shelves. How many books are on each shelf?
Each shelf contains XLIII books.
To find the number of books per shelf, divide the total number of books by the number of shelves.
MCMXLV = 1945
XLV = 45
1945 ÷ 45 = 43
43 in Roman numerals is XLIII.
An artist created a series of paintings, labeling them with Roman numerals up to MCMXLV. If the artist sold paintings labeled from I to CMXLV, how many paintings were sold?
The artist sold CMXLV paintings.
The series runs from I (1) to CMXLV (945). Thus, the number of paintings sold is CMXLV, which is 945 in Roman numerals.
A student needs to calculate the difference in years between the founding of a city in the year DCCCXLV and the year MCMXLV. What is the difference in years?
The difference in years is MC.
The difference between the years MCMXLV and DCCCXLV is calculated as follows:
MCMXLV = 1945
DCCCXLV = 845
1945 - 845 = 1100
1100 in Roman numerals is MC.
Express the sum of the numbers represented by DCCCLXV and MLXXX in Roman numerals.
The sum is MMXLV.
First, convert the Roman numerals to Arabic numerals: DCCCLXV = 865
MLXXX = 1080
Add the numbers: 865 + 1080 = 1945
1945 in Roman numerals is MCMXLV.
Hiralee Lalitkumar Makwana has almost two years of teaching experience. She is a number ninja as she loves numbers. Her interest in numbers can be seen in the way she cracks math puzzles and hidden patterns.
: She loves to read number jokes and games.